BOREHAM WOOD 1 SUTTON UTD 2

by Tony Dolbear

After waiting a fortnight for the chance to follow up the encouraging victory over Braintree, Sutton kept the momentum going on Saturday, edging a competitive and eventful game at Broughinge Road and inflicting a sixth consecutive league defeat on the home side. Boreham Wood played rather better than their recent form suggested, but were let down by a lack of discipline. Midfielder Brian Jones was lucky to last as long as the 73rd minute before finally seeing a red card, while Dave McDonald, booked during the game, and joint player-manager Micky Engwell will both be reported for comments made to the officials after the final whistle. It wasn't a good day for the joint managerial partnership at the club, with Lee Harvey donating U's their winning goal early in the second half, neither was it a great one for the officials. Referee James Evamy lasted just 13 minutes before limping off with what looked like a calf muscle injury, and there was a delay of around 15 minutes before a replacement official was in situ, with assistant Andy Connor taking over the whistle. At times he probably wished that he hadn't, but in fairness he went on to handle a difficult game reasonably well. Before the hold up Tommy Dunn had made a good save from Paul Lamb, and immediately following the break, which can't have helped U's ring-rustiness, he made an even better one from Phil Mason's header. After not getting much of a look in for 20 minutes, U's sprung back and immediately went in front. Dominic Grime failed to clear Ryan Palmer's free kick, and after Rob Haworth's shot had been blocked Eddie Akuamoah evaded one challenge and shot home off Noel Imber's right hand post. U's might quickly have added a second as Imber failed to gather a Dave Timothy free kick, but recovered to make a good stop and prevent an angled volley giving Phil Wingfield a goal on his debut after his move from Kingstonian. Mike Mison also headed a Wingfield corner over the bar, and the home team's frustration was shown when Jones was booked for retaliating to a Paul Honey foul. He might easily have gone off before half time, as in the current climate some referees would have viewed a tumble in the penalty area more severely, and he then took Matt Gray's legs from under him, but before U's could further damage the home team's confidence the scores were levelled. Grime took advantage of a lot of space on the right to collect a crossfield pass and chip to the far post where Gary Dixon converted an easy chance. Haworth should have set up a goal for Akuamoah just before half time, crossing straight at Imber, and ten minutes after the interval, scheduled this time, U's might have been behind as Jones broke through but was denied first by Dunn's fine save, and then by Lewis Gonsalves, who headed the second shot off the line. They proved crucial pieces of goalkeeping and defending, because two minutes later, after a concerted spell of pressure, Wingfield's cross was cleared as far as Gray, who returned the ball low in to the danger area and saw Harvey's attempted clearance divert it in to his own net. Four minutes later the outstanding Akuamoah outpaced the defence to reach Dunn's long kick downfield and lift the ball past Imber, but McDonald got back to make a brilliant goal-line clearance, and when the resulting corner wasn't cleared Wingfield hit the side netting. It was then that the game degenerated, with Wingfield and Mason booked for fouls before Jones and Gray tangled off the ball. Jones was shown a straight red card for his part in the incident while Gray and McDonald were booked after the resulting skirmish, and when Engwell's challenge on Scott Corbett sparked another round of hostilities, the beleaguered Mr Connor's riot act was directed at captains Harvey and Mison. Thankfully tempers remained in check, during the game at least, as U's endured their customary struggle against ten men. They might have been denied victory when substitute Chima Eberendu shot inches wide from 20 yards, but equally should have made things safe in the last move of the game when fine work by Honey left Corbett with just Imber to beat, only for a weak shot gave the keeper an easy save.

B Wood: Imber, Grime, Engwell, McDonald, Harvey, Lamb, Southam, Mason, Dixon, Markman(Eberendu 82), Jones. Subs n/u Brady, Kirby

Sutton: Dunn, Timothy, Gonsalves, Mison, R Palmer, Honey, Wingfield, Corbett, Gray, Haworth, Akuamoah. Subs n/u Brown, Fowler, J Palmer.

Referee: J Evamy(sub A Connor 13). Attendance 216

Sutton gave a debut to left winger Phil Wingfield after signing him from Kingstonian on Friday. Wingfield, 32, made over 200 appearances in three spells with K's, and has also played for Walton, Hayes and Farnborough.

Meanwhile defender Danny Arkwright has gone on loan to his former club Whyteleafe for a month, and Gwynne Berry has been released to play for Corinthian Casuals.

MARLOW RES 0 SUTTON UTD RES 1

A goal early in the second half by Dean Hamlin gave U's the points in Saturday's Suburban League game at Oak Tree Road. On a difficult surface Hamlin scored the winner when he collected Nick Bailey's crossfield pass and beat a defender before sending in a shot which the home keeper half saved but couldn't keep out. Hamlin had earlier hit the bar with a cross from the right, Darren Delandro's follow up effort being blocked, but U's had to play the last twelve minutes a man short when Hamlin and Smith suffered injuries after two changes had already been made. Right at the end Marlow, whose finishing had been poor all afternoon, missed a golden chance to deny U's a deserved victory.

Sutton: Ribolla, Hamlin, Dray, Howard, Brooker(Dennis), Taylor, Bailey, Smith(Tydeman), Seal(Heuston), Moger, Delandro.

The previous week U's reserves were held 1-1at home by Corinthian Casuals, failing to build on Barry Seal's 29th minute goal, while the youth team rounded off 2001 with a victory at Carshalton, Terry Gardner heading the only goal of the game after 11 minutes following a goalkeeping error, with U's own custodian Paul Smith saving a penalty just before half time.